by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Nearly a third of businesses in the county expect to cut jobs over the next few months, a survey has found.

The first KPMG Kent Business Barometer makes generally gloomy reading, with 32% of respondents saying they are likely to cut their workforce between now and 2012. Just over 40% plan to keep staffing levels unchanged over the rest of the year.

Kevin Meehan, KPMG Kent director, said it was worrying that 32% planned to decrease the workforce. "Cutting headcount in order to cut cost needs to be given careful consideration. There are other ways to reduce your people costs through improving employment tax and National Insurance Contribution efficiency, which both benefit the business as well as increasing, not decreasing, employment engagement."

While just 6% are optimistic about the prospects for the UK economy, 19% feel more positive about the outlook for the county. Double dip recession (60%), rising inflation and cost control (50%) are seen as the biggest threats.

But a majority of firms were optimistic about their own prospects and a fifth felt the region was more robust than the rest of the UK.

Quality of life tops the poll as the best thing about doing business in the county, with 43% rating Kent as a "good" or "very good" place to do business. Proximity to London and the ports ranked joint second (75%) as the best features of the region.

Mr Meehan added: "The region has many strengths which will put it in a strong position as the economy becomes stronger."